My girls are FINALLY back at school – and while I would love to tell you that I am heart-broken at not having them home all day every day, the truth is that I am relieved. Those four hours that Isabella (3) is at nursery school makes the hugest difference to my productivity, and to be honest, the school holidays have found me slipping back into some of the bad habits I worked so hard to break at the beginning of the year! In other words:

• Too much time on Facebook
• Reacting to the day instead of planning what I would like to accomplish
• Not setting out clear goals at the beginning of the month
• General lack of planning – in terms of our groceries, social calendar, activities, exercise and downtime

It would really be SO much easier if I was perfect. Then again, I gave up trying to be a good example years ago. I am now just a horrible warning!

So, back to what I was saying before you distracted me. This morning was absolutely HEAVENLY! The girls were at school, my housekeeper was out for the morning running personal errands, and I had the entire house to myself. No TV, no talking, no fighting playing together, no “Moooooooooom” being yelled up the stairs a gadjillion times a day. Just peace and quiet – the perfect opportunity to take control of my day and plan the month ahead.

1. First step was to grab a large piece of paper and write down absolutely EVERYTHING that came to mind. I usually find that this is the best antidote to that panicky feeling I get when I have too many To Do lists running through my head. I write it all down, in no particular order, and keep writing regardless of whether it needs to be done this very second, later today, next week, or one day when I am rich and famous and have STAFF!
2. I then grabbed my Simpler Daily Plan and moved my To Do items across, itemised per section –  My Top 5 Priorities, To Pay, To Buy, To Contact, To Connect With, and general To Do items.
3. Next up, coffee – I am all about instant rewards.
4. I then printed my September Monthly Calendar (yes, I know it’s already the 6th of the month – better late than pregnant never!) On it, I included all birthdays, social arrangements and family get-togethers. I then placed it on the fridge so that everyone is fully in the loop.
5. I then set aside 30 minutes to check off as many tasks on my To Do list as possible. Quick payments, scheduling appointments, printing documents and responding to emails. It’s amazing how much I achieved in that dedicated 30 minute slot!
6. Lastly, I spent the remainder of my time scheduling priorities, tasks, deadlines and goals for each of my clients. I listed everything I need to do in the coming weeks – instead of carrying those details around in my head.

And yes, I managed to stay off Facebook for most of the time – other than while I was eating lunch, when I should have been listening to a TED talk! Baby steps, people, baby steps!

The past 6 weeks haven’t been totally wasted though – they have been an excellent reminder of what works for me, and what doesn’t. And while I did get to spend more time with the kids and enjoy their company (and the lack of homework), I also slid quite quickly back into some bad habits. The next few months are going to be BUSY – and I am so hoping I come through the other side feeling fulfilled but not frazzled!